Video will take up to 60 per cent of all mobile data in 2011 thanks to a small
minority, says new research

Just 10 per cent of all mobile phone users account for 90 per cent of all networks’ data traffic, researchers have found. The study, conducted for video traffic management firm Bytemobile, also suggests that in 2011 60 per cent of all traffic will be video.

The company also questioned whether new generation networks, such as LTE in America, will be able to keep pace with the increasing demands of smartphones and consumers who watch more videos on their mobile phones.

British networks have consistently warned that demand for data is outstripping their capacity to build it and have increased the cost of packages while also lowering the amount included. Earlier this month, T-Mobile cut its data tariffs to 500mb from up to 3gb per month. Operator Three, however, has bucked the trend by axing its data caps.

New data from comparison website Top10.com suggests that O2 and Vodafone currently offer the fastest 3G data speeds at 2.9mb and 2.82 mb. T-Mobile averaged just 1.46mb compared to an industry average of 2.28mb. As more users want to use data, capacity is being spread more thinly.

Harry Jones, Director of Top10.com said that “3G speeds will become increasingly important and so the networks will need to be on top of their games if they want to retain and grow market share."